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News, notes, rumors, and gossip: Tuesday, October 9, 2012

HERE NOW THE NEWS

EXCERPTS FROM EXTERNAL NEWS ARTICLES REGARDING THE NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS ARE POSTED UNDER THEIR SOURCES. MISCELLANEOUS SPORTS ARTICLES ARE POSTED UNDER THE "MISCELLANEOUS" SECTION AT THE END OF THE THREAD. LINKS FOR ALL LISTED SOURCES ARE INCLUDED TO ALLOW MEMBERS TO INDEPENDENTLY BROWSE AT THEIR LEISURE.

NEWARK STAR LEDGER

Giants: Ahmad Bradshaw says Hakeem Nicks gave "hint" that he will play Sunday

Excerpt: "Hakeem Nicks has missed the Giants' last three games with a combination of ailments. First, there's the pain in his surgically repaired right foot. Later, a knee injury he suffered win Week 2 against the Buccaneers caused swelling when he returned to practice.

Monday, Tom Coughlin said he wasn't ready to answer whether Nicks would practice this week. But at least one teammate believes the star wide receiver will be back in uniform in time for a highly anticipated matchup against the 49ers Sunday.

"I think he'll be here this week," Ahmad Bradshaw said in an interview on ESPN Radio this afternoon. "He seemed to give me a hint that he would be." Read more...

Excerpt: "One play Sunday afternoon summed up the way the Giants were able to physically take control of their 41-27 win against the Browns, despite Cleveland’s fast start.

It was Ahmad Bradshaw’s 37-yard run in the third quarter. TE Martellus Bennett, after suffering a hyperextended left knee, sealed the left edge by blocking Browns DE Juqua Parker. FB Henry Hynoski and C David Baas sprinted ahead of Bradshaw, Hynoski blocking LB L.J. Fort and Baas shoving S T.J. Ward out of the way." Read more...

Excerpt: "It's Tuesday, which means the Giants won't practice today, but preparations are well underway for what will be their stiffest test this season. The 49ers have a blemish on their 4-1 record, but they are perhaps currently playing the best football in the league. San Francisco is coming off wins over the Jets and Bills by a combined score of 79-3.

The offense, with the additions of former Giant Mario Manningham and Randy Moss on the outside, has improved substantially since the Giants last faced them in last season's NFC Championship Game. Last week against the Bills, they accumulated 621 yards of total offense. In addition to Manningham, running back Brandon Jacobs may return from a knee injury he suffered in the preseason to take on his former team.

Then there's the stout, physical 49ers defense, which boasts perhaps the league's best front seven and sacked Eli Manning six times in the NFC title game in January.

We'll get into some storylines from out in the Bay Area in this space today and for the rest of the week." Read more...

After rallying Sunday for a 41-27 win against the Browns, the Giants know what’s up next: a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship Game. And the 49ers haven’t just been winning lately, they’ve been winning big: a 34-0 shutout of the Jets, followed by a 45-3 beatdown of the Bills.

“You see it, but we scored 41 points, too,” center David Baas said Monday. “We’re not going to (say), ‘Whoa,’ sit back there and think they’re the almighty, you know what I mean? We’re prepared for them. We know we have a good team, too. We know it’s going to be a battle, and we’ve just got to get prepared this week, have a good week of practice.” Read more...

Excerpt: "The Giants' pass rush woes continued Sunday against the Browns.

They rarely applied pressure on Brandon Weeden and didn't sack the rookie quarterback a single time. The Giants now have just eight sacks through five games this season. They finished tied for third in the NFL with 48 in 2011.

It was just the fourth time since the beginning of the 2010 season that the Giants didn't record a sack in a game. They are 2-2 in those games.

The last time it happened was Week 12 of last season against the Saints, a 49-24 drubbing at the Superdome. In 2010, they failed to register a sack in a 33-20 loss to the Cowboys and a 41-7 win over the Seahawks.

Players and coaches have said that teams have focused on countering the pass rush. They're doing it with quick passes, extra pass protection and an effective run game to keep the defense off balance." Read more...

Giants' Chris Canty is "absolutely" ready to return to practice next week

Excerpt: "Up this week for the Giants is a rematch of the NFC Championship Game, a contest with the San Francisco 49ers that promises to be a tough, physical game.It's

the kind of game for which defensive tackle Chris Canty longs to be on the field.

"To have the opportunity to go into that type of environment and compete on that stage against that level of competition, I mean any competitor worth his salt wants the opportunity to do that," he said. "That’s kind of a bummer that this one is not a week later."

Canty has been on the physically unable to perform list after undergoing offseason knee surgery. Canty said his knee feels "great," and he will "absolutely" begin practicing as soon as he is allowed to, which is after this week's game at San Francisco." Read more...

Excerpt: "Concussions have become a significant concern in the NFL the last couple years and the Giants are now dealing with another one.

Today, Tom Coughlin confirmed Andre Brown was diagnosed with a concussion on his kick return with 10:03 remaining in the first quarter of Sunday's win over the Browns. Brown took a hit from Tank Carder." Read more...

Excerpt: "One Giants safety is returning from a league suspension, and another one was just handed one.

Will Hill was suspended four games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances, the team announced today. Tyler Sash, who just completed an identical four-game suspension, takes Hill's spot on the 53-man roster.

According to the Giants, Hill was suspended for using Adderall -- the same substance that led to Sash's suspension. He will be eligible to return to the Giants' active roster Nov. 5, the day after the Giants' home game against the Steelers.

Hill, who signed with the team after a tryout at the rookie minicamp in May, said in a statement through the Giants that he received a doctor's prescription for Adderall before signing with the team. He went undrafted out of Florida in 2011 and has played nickel corner the past two weeks, in addition to making plays on special teams, like a forced fumble against the Browns." Read more...

Excerpt: "Tom Coughlin has repeatedly been asked for specifics about Nicks' injury, but other than saying there was "swelling" and admitting Nicks had an MRI, Coughlin wasn't talking. And Nicks hasn't talked at all since the knee injury was revealed.

Whatever the truth of the injury is, Bradshaw said that Nicks is just trying to make sure he doesn't rush back and reinjure it.

"Hakeem will be back and he'll be 100 percent when he does (return)," Bradshaw said. "He's just being careful and just taking his time. He wants to come back and be that play-maker he's always been with all he can. He doesn't want to come back and be missing game-in, game-out.

"So I think he's just being precautious about it. But I think he'll be fine." Read more...

Excerpt: "When Antrel Rolle slammed his left knee into an unsuspecting camera man on the sidelines in Carolina, he never imagined that he'd still be hurting three weeks later.

But he is, and he sounds like he doesn't expect his discomfort to go away anytime soon.

Rolle hasn't missed a game since then, but he said on Tuesday that his knee is a "lingering" issue that is still bothering him as the Giants prepare for their NFC championship game rematch in San Francisco. Speaking on WFAN, he said the knee -- which the Giants say was simply cut and bruised -- is "definitely better," but also definitely not 100 percent." Read more...

Excerpt: "Every year, for the last seven years, Tom Coughlin has hosted the “Champions for Children Gala," a fundraiser for his wonderful Jay Fund Foundation. The event raises a lot of money to help families of children with cancer.

It does a little good for the Giants, too.

It turns out the Giants are undefeated in games played immediately after the annual gala is held, which is good news for them considering the timing of this year’s event. The eighth annual gala will be held on Friday night at Cipriani in Manhattan.

Two days later, the Giants face the tough San Francisco 49ers in a much-anticipated rematch of the NFC championship game.

Coincidence or inspiration? Whatever it is, it definitely has worked. Here’s a look at the Giants’ post-Gala history. For more information on this year’s event – which has 36 current Giants scheduled to attend – go to TCJayFund.org." Read more...

Giants need to stop depending on comebacks heading into San Francisco 49ers game, which is gateway to tougher schedule

Excerpt: "There is nothing in the Giants’ game plan that calls for spotting an opponent a 14-0 lead. But it happened in the first five minutes against Cleveland on Sunday.

Fortunately the Giants had enough offensive firepower – a 200-yard rushing performance from Ahmad Bradshaw and three TD receptions by Victor Cruz – to defeat the Browns.

A quick survey of Giants players in the locker room on Monday afternoon found a consensus. No one thinks it would be a good idea to spot San Francisco a 14-0 lead at any point during the game this Sunday to test the resiliency of the Giants offense. “Ideally we don’t want that at all,’’ said guard Kevin Boothe.

“You ask anybody in the locker room and they’ll tell you that we’d rather be running the clock out in the four-minute drill the whole fourth quarter. Sure it’s good to know, and we’re confident that we’re good enough as an offensive team to come back and we’re never out of games, but we can’t play like that week in and week out.’’ Read more...

Giants impressed with San Francisco 49ers, but confidentthey can win NFC Championship game rematch Sunday

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/fo...icle-1.1177965
Exerpt: "The Giants aren't conceding anything to the 49ers, even if they have looked like they might be the best teacm in the NFC so far. In the past two weeks, San Francisco hammered the Jets (34-0) and Buffalo Bills (45-3) by a combined score of 79-3, while racking up 1,000 yards in those games and giving up just 349. That included a franchise-record 621 yards on Sunday against the Bills, including 311 yards rushing. Their offense ranks sixth in the NFL and their defense ranks second." Read more...

Excerpt: "“I’m definitely better than I was three weeks ago,” Rolle said Tuesday during his weekly WFAN radio spot. “It’s a battle, it’s a constant battle each and every day.’’

Rolle was hurt in the Nov. 20 victory over the Panthers in Carolina when he slammed his left knee into a camera stationed just pas the left side of the end zone. He hasn’t missed a game since then with an injury that was initially called a bruise and a laceration. Rolle has been forced to miss practice time and it is clear he is managing himself through swelling and soreness.

“With this knee injury, it’s going to take some time,’’ Rolle said. “I never thought it would be this crucial. It’s a lingering process, not anything too serious, but it’s something that lingers around and sticks with you a little bit. But I’ll be fine and I will be out there for the game come Sunday.” Read more...

Excerpt: "Of course there was so much praise and exultation for what was accomplished, but amid the back-slaps there continue to be reminders the Giants — specifically their offensive linemen — would rather forget about one aspect of one of their proudest moments.

“It seems like that’s all I hear about, other than the Super Bowl, ‘You guys almost got Eli killed against San Francisco,’ ’’ guard Kevin Boothe said yesterday.

It is a great Monday to be one of the five starting linemen in a unit that kept Eli Manning nice and clean a day earlier, as he threw 37 passes, wasn’t sacked and was hit only one time by the Browns in a 41-27 victory. Protecting Manning hasn’t been a problem this season but running the ball has been, which is why the offensive line’s show of force in amassing 243 rushing yards is another reason why the line is riding high." Read more...

Excerpt: "Paging the Giants’ pass rush. You’ll be needed on Sunday in San Francisco. Be there by 1 p.m. Pacific Time and be prepared to be at your best for at least three hours. You can rest on the red-eye flight home.

If the Giants’ pass rush does not answer that call against the 49ers and their potent offense, which trampled the Bills with 621 yards Sunday, here’s a guarantee: The Giants will not be as fortunate as they were in their win over the winless Browns Sunday, when they got away with their spotty defense because they played a bad team.

If you’re a follower of the Giants, you’ve probably been wondering where their “big three’’ pass rushers — Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora — have been hiding this season.

The Giants’ once-dominant pass rush — as big a reason as any for the two Vince Lombardi Trophies they won in the last five years — has been a rumor this season." Read more...

Excerpt: "Defensive tackle Chris Canty shook his head when he thought about sitting out another game, especially this game.

“That was kind of a bummer that this one’s not a week later,’’ he said yesterday.

Canty is on the Physically Unable to Perform list and therefore must miss at least the first six games of the season, with game No. 6 coming Sunday against the 49ers in San Francisco. Canty won’t have to watch his teammates much longer, though, as he’s eligible to start practicing next week and he says his surgically repaired knee is feeling great.

“Absolutely,’’ said Canty when asked if he thought he’d be ready to play the following week against the Redskins. “At the start of the season my knee was significantly better than it was at the end of the regular season and the playoffs. Now it’s even better than that. I’m excited about it, I feel like physically I’m in great condition.’’ Read more...

Excerpt: "The Giants gained one safety and lost another on Monday and the prescription drug Adderall played in part in the return and departure of both players.

Will Hill, the promising first-year safety who made a big play on special teams in the 41-27 victory over the Browns on Sunday and was a growing presence on defense, has been suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. If this sounds familiar, that’s because it’s the same violation that forced another safety, Tyler Sash, to miss the first four games of the season after he was suspended by the league.

Sash on Monday was added to the 53-man active roster, taking the place of Hill.
In both cases, the same drug was used. Both Sash and Hill had prescriptions for Adderall, which is a banned substance." Read more...

Excerpt: "Prince Amukamara’s eyes widened while repeating the statistics put forth Sunday by the 49ers as if he were hearing them for the first time.

While San Francisco boasts the best defense in the NFL, the record-setting numbers hung on the Bills during a 45-3 romp were produced on the offensive side of the ball.

That’s what the Giants will be up against when they travel to Candlestick Park for the first time since the overtime victory that put them in Super Bowl XLVI nine months ago.

Of all the Hall of Fame players and coaches in 49er lore, it was the current offense (without a Montana, Jerry or Young that tattooed Buffalo) which finished with a franchise-record 621 yards behind the arm of Alex Smith, the legs of Frank Gore and a group of wide receivers that includes former Giants Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham.

Not exactly the winless Cleveland Browns, who somehow managed to cause some problems for the Big Blue defense two days ago.

"I just saw the score, 45-3, and then someone said that it was the most yards that their offense has ever put up in its history," Amukamara said. "So you just think about the Steve Youngs and Joe Montanas, the Jerry Rices and Terrell Owens, just people I grew up watching that were there, so they’re definitely making a statement this year."

Ahmad Bradshaw fumbled on his first carry and used the turnover as motivation carrying 30 times for a career-high 200 yards with a touchdown. David Wilson even contributed, scoring his first NFL touchdown on a 40-yard run with Andre Brown out after suffering a concussion on a kickoff return. The offensive line played so well, opened plenty of holes while – as Chris Snee suggested – running a handful of plays over and over. Tom Coughlin also credited the blocking of tight ends Martellus Bennett and Bear Pascoe and fullback Henry Hynoski, whose strong season continues." Read more...

Excrpt: " Amid a postgame locker room teeming with optimism and merriment, Jusdtin Tuck offered a sobering reminder that not every unit flourished in the Giants’ 41-27 blowout of the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.Tuck, the veteran captain of the defense, was asked whether he was concerned about the defensive line, a group that had been nearly as large a piece of the Giants’ bedrock as Eli Manning. Tuck did not hesitate.

“Yes, I am,” he said simply.

He is not alone. Yes, the Giants are 3-2 and tied for first place in the N.F.C. East, and yes, Manning has continued to show a remarkable ability to throw timely and accurate passes whether his target is a star like Hakeem Nicks or a rookie like Rueben Randle. But the Giants do not seem whole." Read more...

Excerpt: ""Poor Eli Manning” is a compilation of quotes by both the media and fans aboutNew York Giants quarterback and Super Bowl XLII & XLVI MVP Eli Manning.

Despite his success, negativity and doubt have followed Peyton’s younger brother since the moment he was traded from the San Diego Chargers to theNew York Giants on draft day of 2004. Regardless of what he does or how well he performs – even in a league that lives and dies by the motto, “What have you done for me lately?” – he is questioned and criticized.

In Sunday's 41-27 victory over the Cleveland Browns, Manning was downright dominating. He rallied his team from a 14-0 deficit, and was routinely making some of the most accurate passes of his career. He ended the game completing 25 of 37 passes (67.6%) for 259 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

What's that? There's an interception in the box score? He sailed a pass or two? Yikes. You know by now that's all it takes for the critics to come out and play. And play they did." Read more...Giants vs Browns: NFL Week 5 analysis

Excerpt: "Man oh man was the New York Giants offense locked in on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, as the G-Men recovered from a 14-0 deficit in the first quarter to cruise to a 41-27 in East Rutherford.

New York came out flat on both sides of the football as the Browns capitalized on an Ahmad Bradshaw with a Trent Richardson touchdown from 15 yards out and followed that up with a 62 yard connection between Brandon Weeden and Josh Gordon.Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 200 yards on 30 carries, and Victor Cruz found the end zone three times as the Giants improved to 3-2 on the season." Read more...

Excerpt: "New York Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty had surgery during the offseason to repair his knee and had been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to start the season. But now he says his knee is feeling better and he expects to start practicing next week – the first week he'll be eligible to under NFL rules.

"I wish I could be available for this week," Canty said. "I feel like, as I do in all instances, I could help our football team. But that decision has been made a long time ago, and I just look forward to next week."

When he found out he would be placed on the PUP list, Canty admitted to being frustrated. He said his knee had felt better than it did at the end of last season, but he also confessed that his knee is feeling much better than it did at the beginning of the season." Read more...

Giants' Will Hill suspended four games for violating PED policy, Tyler Sash added to active roster

Excerpt: "New York Giants safety Tyler Sash has been activated and placed on the 53-man roster after serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drugs policy. Ironically, his roster spot was cleared by fellow safety Will Hill, who himself has now been suspended four-games by the NFL for violating the league's performance-enhancing drugs policy.

Like Sash before him, Hill claims his positive test was a direct result of the use of prescription drug Adderall, for which he failed to catalog the proper paperwork with the league. He had been going over the list of banned substances with Charles Way when he noticed Adderall was among them, but by that time is was already too late. The prescription had been filled and the drug used even prior to signing with the Giants." Read more...

Excerpt: "Former Rutgers University running back Joe Martinek is back with the New York Giants, having been added to the team's practice squad on Tuesday.

Martinek, an undrafted free agent, was with the Giants during the preseason and was impressive enough that there was some thought he would make the practice squad from the beginning. He caught two passes in the preseason for 21 yards and a touchdown, but was waived before the season started.

The Giants brought him back Tuesday, however. To make room on the eight-man practice squad the Giants terminated the contract of defensive end Craig Marshall." Read more..

NFL Power Rankings, Week 6: Giants a top ten team, at least msot people think so

Excerpt: "Let's look around at some of the NFL Power Rankings for Week 6 that were released on Tuesday and see what folks around the Inter-Google think of the 3-2 New York Giants.

SBNation.com, otherwise known as the mothership, has the Giants ranked No. 11. Here is NFL editor Joel Thorman's rationale:

"The verge of the top 10 seems about right for a good yet flawed Giants team."

Agree or disagree with that, Giants' fans? Read on and you will discover that EVERYONE else -- at least everyone else who's opinion we have bothered to include -- thinks the Giants are a top 10 team." Read more...

Excerpt: "It is time for this week's New York Giants roster power rankings, where we rank the players on the active roster from 1-53.

The results are cumulative and based mostly on this season's body of work. A player's past accomplishments are also weighed into their ranking, but the most important factor is the overall contribution to this season's Giants' team. The deeper we get into the season the more difficult it is not to overreact to one performance or one or two plays.

3. Ahmad Bradshaw -- Just when some scribes were starting to wonder how much gas he had left in the tank (OK, I was starting to wonder) he comes up with the defining performance of his career. Pro Football Focus said 70 of Bradshaw's 200 yards rushing came after contact, which is a testament to how hard he ran against the Cleveland Browns. LW: 12

4. Will Beatty -- Amazed that Beatty is this high? I am, too. Part of that is that Beatty has been rock at left tackle since returning to the lineup, earning a +10.2 grade from Pro Football Focus. The other part of that is that after the awful defense the Giants played the last two week there is no way any defensive player deserves to be this high. Beatty, incidentally, has yet to allow a quarterback hit, or even a hurry. LW: 8

5. Jason Pierre-Paul -- I am only grudgingly putting Pierre-Paul this high. He said before the Cleveland game that he wasn't having any fun. Well, it's not much fun watching him plow straight ahead and get stoned at the line of scrimmage, either. The Giants need more than what they have gotten from JPP lately. LW: 3

6. Antrel Rolle -- As usual, it sort of bugs me to put him this high. But, I can't find a reason to really drop him lower. Or, anyone who absolutely has to be pushed above him. LW: 5

7. Martellus Bennett -- Count me among those that was impressed by Bennett's courage on Sunday, playing much of the game with a hyper-extended knee and blocking well enough to help the Giants have their best day running the ball in two years. This guy is en route to earning himself a big contract. LW: 16

8. Chris Snee -- Playing very well, and the Giants' offensive line is playing as well as it has in a long, long time. LW: 10

9. Linval Joseph -- You guys have been calling for it, and even though Sunday wasn't his best game I don't think I can keep him out of the top 10. LW: 13

10. Rocky Bernard -- They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. He drops one spot, which isn't nearly as much as he might have after not playing Sunday. Bernard has been terrific this season, and the Giants' really missed the big defensive tackle against the Browns. LW: 9

One lousy yard, that's how close the 49ers came within a third-down conversion on their last offensive snap against the New York Giants, all while last season's NFC Championship hung in the balance." Read more....Reasons to celebrate: Giants' rookies are week 5 unsung heroes

Excerpt: "After a rocky start to the Week 5 game, Eli Manning, Victor Cruz, andAhmad Bradshaw led the way for the New York Giants in their 41-27 victory over the Cleveland Browns yesterday. Some of the unsung heroes out of this game, however, were the rookies.

Rueben Randle made some headlines during the week leading up to the game, but they weren't very nice ones. NBC Sunday Night Football announcer Cris Collinsworth made comments about the Giants questioning Randle's work ethic. The comments, however, did not bother the rookie.

"All we worry about is what is going on inside the building," said Randle. "What is said on the outside can't really affect us. We are one team and as long as we know what is going on around here I think that's all that matters." Read more...

Excerpt: "New York Giants' coach Tom Coughlin admitted Monday that he is concerned about the team's defense. The Giants did not have a sack ofCleveland Browns' quarterback Brandon Weeden Sunday, and after the Browns had scored on their first three possessions the Giants had given up scores on eight straight possessions.

Cleveland running back Trent Richardson had 81 yards on 17 carries one week after LeSean McCoy of the Philadelphia Eagles gashed the Giants for 123 yards rushing.The Giants' vaunted pass rush has generated only eight sacks in five games, 24th in the league.

"Strategy or not it (lack of pass rush) has definitely slowed us down a little bit. We've gotta look hard at how we can get this thing resolved and get some more pressure on the quarterback. We're gonna try to do that," Coughlin said." Read more...

Excerpt: "The New York Giants won week 5 against the Cleveland Browns 41-27.

An impressive win? Well a win is a win lets just say that. Glaringly missing in action is the once feared front 4 and their pass rush. The Giants currently rank 24th overall in the NFL with 8 measly sacks. As an overall defense they rank 21st and their rush defense ranking is currently 16th.

Last season the front 4 had a span where they disappeared but injuries had a lot to do with that. This season there really isn't any excuse. Many analysts and so called experts ranked the GMEN as the most feared front four in the NFL before the season began.

Reality and perception are different things as the cliche goes cause the Giants are playing like smurfs on the defensive line. Last season former Giants great Michael Strahan called them out and said they needed to man up. They did just in the nick of time and helped Big Blue win a Super Bowl. Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Mathia Kiwanuka are just to talented to be playing this bad.

In week 5 they totaled ZERO sacks! They were playing the Browns! If you can't get a sack against that team you are going to be in trouble. The yearly total as previously mentioned is 8 sacks, that's a total which in previous years could be acquired in one game.

Against the Philadelphia Eagles they over pursued and displayed a lack of defense which should only be present in rookies. Osi several times rushed in tightly instead of protecting the out side to maintain containment. Jason Pierre-Paul also experienced the same issues. It happened all throughout the game and there was no adjustment. Vick and McCoy just kept luring them in and bouncing to the outside." Read more...

Excerpt: "Last year's Super Bowl run for the New York Giants was characterized by clutch play down the stretch from quarterback Eli Manning and late-season dominance from the team's deep defensive line.

Manning has picked up where he left off, but the Giants aren't rushing the passer with much success in 2012. Their eight takedowns rank 24th in the NFL and New York failed to register a sack inSunday's 41-27 win over the Cleveland Browns.

But Rolle won't exchange pleasantries with his former teammates once the game starts.

"It is going to be good to see those guys and play against them," Rolle said in his weekly spot on WFAN radio. "We are all great friends off the field. On the field ... if that means bring the noise, then so be it, we are definitely going to bring the noise.

"We will hug and shake hands after the game," Rolle continued. "But during that game time, there won't be any patting on the butt." Read more...

Excerpt: "1. Cruzing. The Giants trailed 14-0, but Eli Manning led a methodical drive and put the G-Men at the Browns' 3-yard-line in the first quarter. On a play-action pass, he found Cruz in the right side of the end zone to slice Cleveland's lead to 14-7. It was the first of what would be three passing touchdowns from Manning to Cruz and really seemed to galvanize the offense.

2. Stevie Wonder. The Browns led 17-10, and seemed like they would add a few more points, as they faced a 3rd-and-1 at the Giants' 25 in the second quarter. Cleveland went to the air and rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden overthrew his receiver -- it landed right in the arms of Stevie Brown, who returned it into Browns territory. Brown was starting in place of the injured Kenny Phillips and did a great job. " Read more...

Excerpt: "The San Francisco 49ers have obliterated their last two opponents, by a combined score of 79-3.

The New York Giants have noticed, and expressed respect for the Niners on Monday. But they certainly aren’t intimidated entering Sunday's NFC title game rematch in San Francisco.

“You see it,” center and former 49er David Baas said of San Francisco’s recent domination of the Jets and Bills. “We scored 41 points (Sunday) too so ... we are not going to think, whoa, (and) like sit back there and think they’re the almighty. You know what I mean?"

“We are prepared for them,” Baas added. “We know we have a good team too. We know it is going to be a battle and we got to get prepared.”

Of course, Baas isn’t the only one facing his former team in this NFC showdown. The Giants will be reunited with Mario Manningham and Brandon Jacobs. " Read more...

Excerpt: "SPECIAL-TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Will Hill / S / New York GiantsHill, a first-year player, helped the Giants pull away, and finish off, the Browns with his play on special teams. The game was tied at 17 when Hill knocked the ball away from Browns WR-RS Josh Cribbs during a second-quarter kickoff return. Giants S Stevie Brown recovered the loose ball, and the Giants, who trailed 17-7 at one point in the second quarter, never looked back, marching to a 41-27 win. Hill also recovered the ball when the Browns attempted an onside kick with 3:56 left in the fourth quarter. “He made a nice play on the on-side,” Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said. “That was kind of goofy, I don’t know if that could be duplicated that kind of chip. … He was right on the spot. He’s a worker and hustler and he played a lot.” Hill is suspended for the next four games for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances. " Read more...

Excerpt: "The Giants gained ground in the NFC East race as the Redskins (who lost a QB) and Eagles (who might change QBs) fell in close games and the Cowboys licked their wounds on bye. Here's a quick spin around what happpened the division in Week Five.

GIANTS
What we learned: A 14-0 deficit is just par for the course. For the second time against a team coming off a horrible season, the Giants have staked an opponent a two-TD lead at home — and in this case, it was to the winless Browns. But in both cases, the Giants have come back with a vengeance. They fired back offensively, despite being without WRs Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden and with TE Martellus Bennett missing time during the game, and eventually overwhelmed the Browns in a 41-27 victory. The Giants caught fire during a 27-3 run (including the final 20 points of the first half) as Victor Cruz and Ahmad Bradshaw turned in personal bests with three receiving TDs and 200 yards rushing, respectively." Read more...

Excerpt: "There’s been a clamoring for it, so each week the Pro Football Focus team is going to be reacting to your insatiable need for snap counts and stats in a live blog-style piece.

So, welcome to the inaugural Snap and Stat Report!

Now, before you think we’re being too generous, we’re not going to be giving away all of our precious snap count (and snap role) data, nor all of our statistics. To get this information you’ll need aPremium Statistics subscription, and if you want to use the numbers to destroy the fantasy competition, you’ll need a Fantasy Gold membership.

But if you’re not inclined to pay quite yet, don’t think you don’t mean anything to us as this report will give you plenty to whet your appetite. So keep checking back — this page is going to be constantly updated all day long!

Browns 27 – 41 Giants (last updated 12:16)

Snap Shot

Browns Offense: The 85% of offensive snaps Trent Richardson was involved in represented a seasons high. His use is on the up.

Browns Defense: Did the Giants see the zone blitz coming? The Browns twice dropped Frostree Rucker while overloading the Giants right side with a safety (T.J. Ward) and linebacker (Scott Fujita). Both times Manning had already audibled and hit his tight end in stride for decent gains.

Giants Offense: Receiver Reuben Randle saw a career high 38 snaps (50%) where he ran 28 routes to help him to a total 3.15 yards per route run.

Giants Defense: The entire starting secondary played every snap, but no other player did with the Giants using a heavy linebacker rotation that saw five players get double digit snaps.

Stat Attack

Browns Offense: Maybe its time to get Jordan Norwood more involved the offense. He caught 9-0f-9 balls thrown his way at a healthy 9 yards per catch.

Browns Defense: Poor old Buster Skrine. In addition to giving up two penalties (it should have been three) he allowed six receptions on nine balls into his coverage for 58 yards and a score.

Giants Offense: The excellent Eli Manning completed 8 passes over 10 yards in the air, with one pick that really should have been called a pass interference.

Giants Defense: Chase Blackburn walked away with a big interception, but that was about the only thing he was able to hold onto. He got his hands to Trent Richardson four times, only for the Browns running back to force a missed tackle (one was nullified by a penalty)." Read more...

This is probably not a good game to spot 14 points to the opponent.
Would love to have the Giants start fast like the Panther game.
49ers might be too wrapped up with revenge, something to take advantage of.

This is probably not a good game to spot 14 points to the opponent.
Would love to have the Giants start fast like the Panther game.
49ers might be too wrapped up with revenge, something to take advantage of.

Thanks RF!

It will be a great game

“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.” MB Rule # 1